DHS Hands Out First Innovation OTS Award

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded $200,000 to Pulzze Systems, a small business based in Santa Clara, Calif. The award is designed to advance detection capability and security monitoring of networked systems, collectively known as the Internet of Things.

This is the first award from the Innovation Other Transaction Solicitation (OTS), and encourages nontraditional companies to create unusual ideas that protect national cybersecurity.

“We’re trying to mirror the way Silicon Valley and other innovative investment communities work,” said Melissa Ho, managing director of the DHS Silicon Valley office. “We issued this call in December and made our first award two months later, demonstrating our ability to adapt to new ways of doing business.”

“This first Innovation OTS award proves DHS can keep pace with the innovation community and is moving in the right direction to become a viable partner,” said Dr. Reginald Brothers, DHS undersecretary for science and technology.

Pulzze Systems is a startup that focuses on the Internet of Things, a system of Internet-connected devices such as smartphones, IT networks, and appliances. Pulzze aims to secure infrastructures by improving visibility and providing dynamic detection as different components connect or disconnect from a networked system.